Each of Us: A Tool to Support Co-design

CONTEXT

Co-design is more than participation — it means bringing different kinds of knowledge and skills together as a team to design something that works for everyone. Each of Us is a practical tool built to help researchers, designers, and patient partners do exactly that: work together creatively, clearly, and equitably.

The tool was developed through a 10-stage co-design process with the EMPaCT community, moving from initial scoping through iterative prototyping, community feedback workshops, and refinement, with particular attention to clarity and inclusivity of language at every stage.

THE TOOL CONTAINS:

The tool supports four phases of co-design — pre-planning, conducting, following up, and being creative — and comes in two formats:

One-pagers provide a single-page guide for each phase, covering key questions to ask, what to expect, and strategies for leading the work.

Card deck is an interactive set of cards designed to spark dialogue across the four phases. Each card includes a checklist, key questions, expectations, and recommended strategies.

EDI FRAMEWORK:

Drawing on research into how co-design practice shifted during the pandemic, the tool embeds an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) framework throughout. The framework identifies seven focus areas and 37 considerations for making co-design welcoming and accessible — especially when in-person participation is challenging. It gives teams a clear, practical way to build EDI into every stage of their work.